Tallahassee, Florida — E. Bryan Wilson, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced that TIMOTHY ROBERT TREFFINGER (43), of Archer, Florida was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison for the possession of firearms and destructive devices (pipe bombs) in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of an unregistered silencer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), Title 21 United States Code, Section 841, and Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861. The Court ordered Mr. Treffinger to pay a $10,000 fine, $500 Special Monetary Assessment and will be on 5 years supervised release following his incarceration in federal prison. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of his house, a motorcycle, $5,000 in cash, $11,000 in gold coins, 39 guns and a trailer.

Evidence introduced at Treffinger’s trial held in January of this year, in United States District Court in Gainesville, Florida, established that Treffinger had been growing marijuana on his five acre property in Archer, Florida for more than five years. On July 14, 2008, DEA was conducting a consent search of Treffinger's residence due to his marijuana growing operation. While conducting the search DEA agents reported observing what appeared to be pipe bombs scattered throughout the residence. ATF and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad were subsequently notified and responded to the residence. Examination of the devices by ATF Special Agents led to the determination that they were in fact destructive devices. ATF and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office secured the residence and later began the dangerous task of disrupting the devices. After each device was rendered safe, ATF Special Agents collected and preserved the remains as evidence of the criminal offense. During the investigation it was discovered that Treffinger had dug a bunker complex around his residence and monitored the area using surveillance equipment.

Recovered during the operation were 267 live marijuana plants, 39 firearms, 33 pipe bombs, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. A loaded rifle recovered from the master bedroom was equipped with a silencer and laser aiming system. Testimony given at trial established that Treffinger had made the cast iron or PVC pipe bombs using black powder, nails, screws and B-B’s. Treffinger also had several booby traps among the pipe bombs which could have been remotely detonated via electronics. ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Scott McCampbell stated, Justice was served today to a dangerous criminal who manufactured explosives to protect his drug trade.

Acting United States Attorney Wilson commended the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, the Gainesville Police Department, Gainesville Drug Enforcement Administration and the U. S. Marshall’s Service who assisted with this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory P. McMahon.

More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.

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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives United States Department of Justice